This rules compilation is freely distributable. No charge may ever be made for distributing this guide and no one may make a profit from it.

• Manufacturer: Williams.
• Release date: October 1992.
• Video game availability: Pinball FX3 (Zen Studios), Visual Pinball X, Pinball Arcade (FarSight Studios).

All technical information about this pinball machine is on ipdb.org.

Consider all of the information in this guide for a pinball machine with factory default settings and latest ROM (version L-5).

✪ Introduction

Fish Tales was released by Williams in October 1992, and it sold 13,640 machines. That makes Fish Tales one of the 20 best-selling pins of all time!

Fish Tales was designed by Mark Ritchie, to whom we owe several beloved pinball machines like Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure, Taxi, Diner, Police Force and Big Guns. The playfield is equipped with a fishing reel-shaped toy that can lock 3 balls, and the topper is a gigantic fish that moves its tail from time to time during the game.

The catchphrase of this game is “Catch'Em All - Hook, Line and Sinker!”, a pun that refers to the world of fishing and pinball.

✪ Overview

The general goal is to catch as many fish as possible and tell the most outlandish stories about their size.

Overview of modes and big awards:

Name	Type	Points / Awards	Difficulty *
Long Cast	Single shot	5 million points maximum.	✰✰
Captive Ball Awards	Awards	Attractive awards, including the lighting of Extra Ball Target 💢💡.	✰✰✰
U-Turn	Single shot	1 million points.	✰✰✰✰
Double Cross	Synchronized shots with 2 balls	5 million points.	✰✰✰✰✰
Fish Tales	Story mode / Hurry-up mode	250,000 points per caught fish on the Stringer 💡. 500,000 points per Tale Told 💡. 5 million points maximum per Stretched Truth.	✰✰✰✰
Feed Frenzy	Hurry-up mode	35 million points maximum.	✰✰✰
Rock the Boat	Hurry-up mode	10 million points maximum per shot.	✰✰✰
Monster Fish	Hurry-up mode	10.5 million points for the Activation. 50 million points maximum per “Monster Fish”.	✰✰✰
Fish Finder	Awards	Attractive awards, including the lighting of Extra Ball Target 💢💡.	✰
Video Mode	Video Mode	20 million points maximum.	✰✰
Caster's Club Multiball	Multiball	Between 20 and 240 million points per Jackpot. Between 40 and 480 million points per Double Jackpot. 600 million points maximum per Super Jackpot.	✰✰✰✰

^* Give your feelings about the difficulty by connecting to the Discord Server of this site. Polls are pinned and the results will be updated on this guide.

✪ Playfield Elements

Ball Launching Handle 🎮

This auto-plunging device is shaped like a little fishing rod handle with a button on the top of it.

Used:

• to launch the ball on the playfield,
• and to launch torpedoes during Video Mode.

Flippers 🎮

This lightning flippers are 3 millimeters shorter, and therefore the space between them is 6 millimeters more than other Williams games.

Without them, it wouldn't be a pinball machine! Master the techniques ‒ like the live catch, the post pass and more ‒ to control the ball and improve your scores.

Eject Hole 🕳️

The Eject Hole 🕳️, at the top right of the playfield, is usually reached by shooting up the Left Orbit 🚦.
However, it is possible to get it if the ball is bouncing around the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡, for example.

Used:

• to collect Fish Finder awards,
• to start Video Mode,
• and to score Jackpots and Double Jackpots during Caster's Club Multiball.

Caster's Club 🕳️💢

This is a hard-to-hit shot, and a drop target blocks the way at certain times. When a ball makes it in, the game will kick the ball up a habitrail which leads to the Fishing Reel 🔩 on the left side of the playfield.

Used:

• to get the Skill Shot,
• and to lock balls for the Caster's Club Multiball.

Fishing Reel 🔩

This element can lock 3 balls received from the Caster's Club 🕳️💢. It spins to accept new balls, or to let a ball out to have it kicked back into play from the Automatic Shooter Lane 🚦.
Balls kicked out go around the top of the playfield and out a habitrail aimed to your left Flipper 🎮.

Locks the balls for the Caster's Club Multiball.

In multiplayer mode, the game keeps track of all locked balls for each player, so that another player cannot 'steal' your locked balls.

Fish Targets 💢

There are two banks of targets, on the left and right sides, that have in front of them a fish made up of three distinct parts ‒ the tail, the body, and the head.
Each hit to a target bank lights one part of its corresponding fish.

Hit one bank 3 times to fully light a fish, which will advance the Stringer 💡.
Used during:

• Fish Tales story mode,
• and Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode.

Spinner 💢

The Spinner 💢 is located in the Left Orbit 🚦, under the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡.
During Fish Tales story mode only, each rotation of the Spinner 💢 will cycle through the lights on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡.

Used to collect awards during both:

• Fish Tales story mode,
• and Monster Fish hurry-up mode.

Hitting the Spinner 💢 from the wrong direction, as from a Long Cast, doesn't count for Spinner 💢 awards.

Captive Ball 💢

The Captive Ball 💢 is trapped in the middle of The Boat 🚦💢. A dead-on shot will send it up to the top, where there is a target that it can hit. If the ball is not hit hard enough, it won't reach the target. Only hitting the target will count as a Captive Ball 💢 hit.

Used:

• to collect Captive Ball Awards,
• to score a Grab Yer Gear,
• to score a Sell Yer Gear,
• and to collect Super Jackpots during the Caster's Club Multiball.

Jet Bumpers 💢

There are three Jet Bumpers 💢. Balls that enter the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 are drained into the bumper area.

The value of the Jet Bumpers 💢 can be increased by collecting “Super Jets” from the Fish Finder awards.

Extra Ball Target 💢💡

This is a small target, hard to hit, just to the left of the Caster's Club 🕳️💢.

Used to collect an Extra Ball.

The Boat 🚦💢

The Boat 🚦💢 is an inclined plastic figure in the center of the playfield. Because it is inclined, it is hard to shoot the ball there.
You can aim for the Captive Ball 💢 in the center or shoot up each side of The Boat 🚦💢 using the Port Ramp 🚦 and the Starboard Ramp 🚦.
The ramps of The Boat 🚦💢 contain two of the Feed Frenzy Arrows 💡.

Used:

• to collect Frenzy points during Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode,
• to score points during Rock the Boat hurry-up mode,
• and to activate Monster Fish hurry-up mode.

Automatic Shooter Lane 🚦

This is an automatic shooter lane for balls ejected from the Fishing Reel 🔩.

Used during Caster's Club Multiball to send blocked balls onto the playfield.

Left Orbit 🚦

This orbit contains the Spinner 💢 and 4 inserts ‒ one of the Feed Frenzy Arrows 💡, Monster Fish Hurry-up 💡, Fish Finder 💡 and Jackpot 💡.
It is the way to the Eject Hole 🕳️.

Used:

• to reach the Eject Hole 🕳️, when Fish Finder 💡 is lit, to earn a Fish Finder awards,
• to hit the Spinner 💢 and complete one of the Tale Told 💡 during Fish Tales story mode,
• to collect Frenzy points during Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode,
• to hit the Spinner 💢 and collect the “Monster Fish” value during Monster Fish hurry-up mode,
• to reach the Eject Hole 🕳️ to start the Video Mode,
• and to reach the Eject Hole 🕳️ and score Jackpots and Double Jackpots during the Caster's Club Multiball.

L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡

The three lanes at the top of the playfield allow you to spell L-I-E.

Used:

• to advance the Bonus Multiplier,
• and lite the Lite Fish Finder 💡 in the Right Inlane 🚦 for Fish Finder awards.

• Lit lanes can be changed with either Flipper 🎮 button.
• Spelling L-I-E turns off the lowest award on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡. This improves your chances of a better reward when you Stretch the Truth in Fish Tales story mode.

Right Orbit 🚦

This orbit contains 2 inserts (one of the Feed Frenzy Arrows 💡 and Long Cast 💡).

Used:

• to perform a Long Cast,
• and to collect Frenzy points during Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode.

Left Inlane 🚦

The left inlane contains the Lite Long Cast 💡 that is always on.

Used for the Long Cast.

Right Inlane 🚦

The right inlane contains the insert Lite Fish Finder 💡.

Used for the Fish Finder awards.

Outlanes 🚦

Each outlane contains one of the Special Lights 💡.

Used for the Special.

Cast Again 💡

This insert is located between the two Flippers 🎮.

Lights up to indicate that at least one Extra Ball has been earned and that it's possible to shoot again when a ball is drained.

Bonus Multiplier Lights 💡

Three multiplier inserts are located in front of the two Flippers 🎮: 1x, 2x and 4x. They are added to go up to 7x.
Normally starts at 1x at the beginning of each ball and progresses by 1x at a time.

Used to indicate your current Bonus Multiplier.

Auto Cast 💡

This flashing insert is located in front of the two Flippers 🎮.

Used to indicate when the Ball Save protects from instant ball drains.

Tackle Box 💡

Located in front of the two Flippers 🎮, the Tackle Box 💡 contains 3 inserts representing 3 fishing categories: Tropical, Fresh Water and Deep Sea.

Each Jackpot collected during the Caster's Club Multiball advances the fishing category. Light all 3 to light Super Jackpot 💡.

Tales Told 💡

There are 4 fish tails in the center of the playfield to represent 4 tales to tell.

• Lights up during Fish Tales story mode.
• Lighting all four tails starts the Rock the Boat hurry-up mode.

Stringer 💡

The Stringer 💡 is represented by the scales of the 4 fish in the center of the playfield.
Complete Fish Targets 💢 to advance the Stringer 💡.

Used:

• during Fish Tales story mode,
• and during the Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode.

School of Fish 💡

Six young fish with school supplies represent this School of Fish 💡 in the center of the playfield. They are lit by combos on Port Ramp 🚦 and Starboard Ramp 🚦.

Used to activate Monster Fish hurry-up mode.

Lite Long Cast 💡

This insert in the Left Inlane 🚦 is always on.

If this insert is lit when the ball rolls through the Left Inlane 🚦, Long Cast 💡 will light in the Right Orbit 🚦 to collect the Long Cast award.

Lite Fish Finder 💡

This insert in the Right Inlane 🚦 is lit at the start of a new game and when L-I-E is spelled on L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 (non-cumulative).

If this insert is lit when the ball rolls through the Right Inlane 🚦, Fish Finder 💡 will light in the Left Orbit 🚦 to collect a Fish Finder award.

• This light remains on until the Fish Finder random award is collected.
• It turns off during Caster's Club Multiball and if Video Mode is lit, and turns back on when these modes end.

Special Lights 💡

Two inserts are located in the Outlanes 🚦.

Lights up to indicate when to collect the Special.

Feed Frenzy Arrows 💡

Four purple fish are located in the Left Orbit 🚦, the Port Ramp 🚦, the Starboard Ramp 🚦 and the Right Orbit 🚦.

Used during Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode to indicate which ramps and orbits to shoot to collect Frenzy points.

Monster Fish Hurry-up 💡

This insert is located in the Left Orbit 🚦 and pоints to the Spinner 💢.

Lights up to indicate when the “Monster Fish” points can be collected during Monster Fish hurry-up mode.

Fish Finder 💡

This insert is located in the Left Orbit 🚦 and indirectly pоints to the Eject Hole 🕳️.

Lights up to indicate when a random award can be collected from the Fish Finder awards.

Jackpot 💡

This insert is located in the Left Orbit 🚦 and indirectly pоints to the Eject Hole 🕳️.

Lights up to indicate when to collect Jackpots or Double Jackpots during the Caster's Club Multiball.

Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡

This billboard, at the top of the Left Orbit 🚦, has 5 lights corresponding to multipliers: Total Lie (0X), Actual Size (1X), 2X, 3X and 5X.
During Fish Tales story mode only, each rotation of the Spinner 💢 will cycle through the lights on the billboard.

Used during Fish Tales story mode.

Super Jackpot 💡

The Super Jackpot 💡 insert pоints at the Captive Ball 💢.

Lights up to indicate when to collect the Super Jackpots during the Caster's Club Multiball.

Captive Ball Values 💡

Several inserts are located above the Captive Ball 💢. They correspond to awards and points to be collected.

Used for the Captive Ball Awards and Grab Yer Gear.
Values advance by making Long Cast or as a Fish Finder award.

Double Jackpot 💡

This insert pоints to the Caster's Club 🕳️💢.

Flashes to indicate when to lock a second ball into the Fishing Reel 🔩 by hitting the Caster's Club 🕳️💢 to make a Double Jackpot available during the Caster's Club Multiball.

Lock Lights 💡

Three numbered inserts are located in front of the Caster's Club 🕳️💢.

Used to indicate locked balls for the Caster's Club Multiball.

Long Cast 💡

This insert is located in the Right Orbit 🚦.

Lights up to indicate when to perform a Long Cast by shooting the Right Orbit 🚦.

✪ Bonuses, Awards and Other Points

Skill Shot

The Skill Shot is called “Fast Cast” in this game and is performed by quickly hitting the Caster's Club 🕳️💢 (or the drop target when it is up):

• after a ball launch at the start of a new ball,
• or after locking a ball in Caster's Club 🕳️💢.

A Skill Shot can also be performed immediately after earning a Long Cast during play.

A Skill Shot cannot be earned after an Auto Cast 💡.

2 million points for the first shot, and increases by 1 million per shot, up to a maximum of 10 million points.

Ball Save

While Auto Cast 💡 is flashing, a protection from instant drains is active.
A ball will be automatically plunged back into play if a ball is drained.

This feature activates at the beginning of each new ball and at the beginning of Caster's Club Multiball.

Limited time ball save.

During this time, if the ball rolls over a switch in one of the Outlanes 🚦, the next ball is sent before the first one even finishes draining! If the lost ball is death-saved, it is possible to have a mini-multiball.

Kickbacks

There is no Kickback mechanic on this table.

Bonus Multiplier

To raise the Bonus Multiplier indicated on Bonus Multiplier Lights 💡 by 1x at a time:

• spell L-I-E by using the top rollovers to light each letter at the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡,
• or collect “Bonus X” as a Fish Finder award.

• This Bonus Multiplier can be increased from 2x up to 7x.
  During the game, add the values of any lit Bonus Multiplier Lights 💡 to find out the current Bonus Multiplier.
• The Bonus Multiplier is reset when the ball is drained, unless “Hold Bonus” was collected on the same ball from the Captive Ball Awards.

• The End-of-Ball Bonus is multiplied by the value of the Bonus Multiplier.
• After 7x, each subsequent completion of L-I-E is worth 5 million, 10 million, 15 million, then 20 million points.
• 250,000 points are added to the End-of-Ball Bonus each time L-I-E is spelled on L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡, unless the bonus is already maxed out at 3 million points.

Spelling L-I-E on L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 also turns off the lowest award on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡. This improves your chances of a better reward when you Stretch the Truth in Fish Tales story mode.

End-of-Ball Bonus

When the ball drains, an End-of-Ball Bonus is earned (except when a tilt has occurred).

• Most lanes on the playfield increase bonus.
• The End-of-Ball Bonus is reset when the ball is drained, unless “Hold Bonus” was collected on the same ball from the Captive Ball Awards.

• This bonus starts at 1,000 points and can be increased to a maximum of 3 million points.
  It can be multiplied up to 7x with the Bonus Multiplier, for a total of 21 million points.
• 250,000 points are added to the End-of-Ball Bonus each time L-I-E is spelled on L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡, unless the bonus is already maxed out at 3 million points.
• During Fish Tales story mode, each Tale Told 💡 adds 500,000 points and each fish caught on the Stringer 💡 adds 250,000 points.
  They are not multiplied by the Bonus Multiplier and do carry over ball-to-ball.

If “Hold Bonus” of the Captive Ball Awards is collected on the final ball of the game, all of the End-of-Ball Bonus values are awarded twice after the final ball drains.

Long Cast

When Long Cast 💡 is lit, shoot the Right Orbit 🚦. The ball must complete the loop fully and come out through the Left Orbit 🚦.

Long Cast 💡 lights for 10 seconds at the start of a new ball.
If it is not lit, it can also be re-lit:

• For 10 seconds by having the ball roll down the Left Inlane 🚦 when Lite Long Cast 💡 is lit (this light is always on).
• Without a timer present by sending the ball around the Right Orbit 🚦. In this case, the upper left gate will be closed, and the ball goes into one of the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡. Passing the ball from above (when it misses the Eject Hole 🕳️ when coming from the Left Orbit 🚦) has the same effect.

• 1 million for the first Long Cast, increases by 1 million per shot, up to a maximum of 5 million points.
• Each time a Long Cast is completed, it advances the Captive Ball Values 💡 of the Captive Ball Awards.

Captive Ball Awards

Hitting the Captive Ball 💢 hard enough so that it hits the target behind it, collects the lowest flashing reward of the Captive Ball Values 💡 (these values can be seen just above it and are described below).

• At the start of the game, the value “Hold Bonus” is flashing. To advance the Captive Ball Values 💡 and make the corresponding insert flash:
  
  • make a Long Cast,
  • or collect the "Inc. Captive Ball" Fish Finder award.
  Two or more Captive Ball 💢 values can be flashing at the same time, but only the lowest value is collected.
• Once the award is earned, the value stops flashing and stays lit.
• The Captive Ball Awards drop back to the first level “Hold Bonus” once the ball is lost.

Awards corresponding to Captive Ball Values 💡 (from bottom to top):

• “Hold Bonus”: 1 million points and carries the current End-of-Ball Bonus value and Bonus Multiplier over to the next ball.
• “Video Mode”: 2 million points and lights the Eject Hole 🕳️ to activate Video Mode.
• “Rock the Boat”: 3 million points and activates the Rock the Boat mode.
• “Lite X-Ball”: 5 million points and lights the Extra Ball Target 💢💡.
• “Instant Multiball”: 10 million points and automatically activates Caster's Club Multiball.

Grab Yer Gear (Captive Ball Awards)

If none of the Captive Ball Values 💡 is flashing,
- and -
if “Instant Multiball” hasn’t yet been collected from the Captive Ball Awards,
then hitting the Captive Ball 💢 scores a “Grab Yer Gear”, which corresponds to the points of the highest lit award (not a flashing award).

See the Sell Yer Gear section below if “Instant Multiball” has already been lit solid.

Points corresponding to Captive Ball Values 💡:

• “Hold Bonus”: 1 million points.
• “Video Mode”: 2 million points.
• “Rock the Boat”: 3 million points.
• “Lite X-Ball”: 5 million points.
• If nothing is lit: 500,000 points.

Sell Yer Gear (Captive Ball Awards)

After completing the Captive Ball Awards, each hit on the Captive Ball 💢 scores a “Sell Yer Gear”.

When the ball is drained, all Captive Ball Values 💡 for the Captive Ball Awards turn off and the Sell Yer Gear is no longer qualified.

• 5 million points for the first shot, and increases by 500,000 points per shot, up to a maximum of 10 million points.
• When 6.5 million points are reached, it lights a Special in the 2 Outlanes 🚦.

U-Turn

A shot on Port Ramp 🚦 or Starboard Ramp 🚦 that doesn’t pass all the way through The Boat 🚦💢, and comes back down the other side, scores a “U-Turn”.

1 million points.

Double Cross

During Caster's Club Multiball, complete both boat ramps ‒ Port Ramp 🚦 and Starboard Ramp 🚦 ‒ with two balls crossing, before the first one hits the Left Inlane 🚦 or Right Inlane 🚦.

5 million points.

Extra Ball

To achieve an Extra Ball: hit the Extra Ball Target 💢💡 when it is lit.

• Here are the two ways to light the Extra Ball Target 💢💡:
  
  1. As the 4^th Captive Ball Award.
  2. As a random Fish Finder award.
• There is one way to instantly earn an Extra Ball:
  
  1. During Video Mode, hit the “EB” symbol.
  [Only on Pinball FX3] There are two more ways to instantly earn an Extra Ball:
  
  1. When Special Lights 💡 are lit, drain a ball down either one of the Outlanes 🚦.
  2. Once 100 million points is achieved in the game.
• Cast Again 💡 lights up to indicate that at least one Extra Ball has been earned.

Add an extra ball. You can shoot again when a ball is drained.

These extra balls (except the last, 100 million points) can be achieve on each of the 3 main balls.

Special

When Special Lights 💡 are lit, drain a ball into one of the 2 Outlanes 🚦.

• The Special is lit after scoring Sell Yer Gear 4 times.
• The Special will stay lit until it is collected or the game ends.

[On a real pinball machine], offers a Replay.
[On Pinball FX3], gives an Extra Ball.

Replay

[Only on a real pinball machine] Replays can be awarded:

• 1 by scoring a Special.
• 1 by reaching a certain score set by the owner of the machine or factory settings.
• 3 by setting a new Grand Champion score.
• 1 by winning the random score match during the match feature at the end of the game.

Offer a Replay (or free credit).

✪ Main Modes

Fish Tales

In this story mode, catch some fish and try to lie about their size.

Catching Fish

Completing one fish on the left or right side of the playfield using the Fish Targets 💢 will light a fish on the Stringer 💡 across the center. The Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡 will also light up for 15 seconds.

• Hit one of the Fish Targets 💢 3 times on the same side to light the fish in front of it and catch a fish.
• Once one of the Fish Targets 💢 is complete, it turns off and stays unlit until the one on the opposite side is complete.
• At the start of each game the Fish Targets 💢 flash, allowing you to shoot at either side at the same time.

Caught fish are cumulative throughout the game and each caught fish adds 250,000 points to the End-of-Ball Bonus.

Stretch the Truth

After catching a fish, you have a few seconds to tell a story about the size of the fish and try to stretch the truth to earn more points. But be careful, you can get caught in a total lie.
The Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡 will light up for 15 seconds. Hit the Spinner 💢 by shooting the Left Orbit 🚦 within the time limit to complete one of the Tales Told 💡.

• The ball just needs to activate the Spinner 💢 to complete one of the Tales Told 💡; the ball does not need to reach the Eject Hole 🕳️.
• Once the Spinner 💢 is hit via the Left Orbit 🚦, each rotation causes the light to cycle through the five values on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡. The value the light stops next to will be awarded.
  The values on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡 represent getting caught in a total lie about the size of the fish, telling the truth about the actual size, or lying about the size and getting away with it.
• Spelling L-I-E on L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 turns off the lowest award on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡 (until only the “5X” is left). This improves your chances of a better reward.

• The values on the Stretch The Truth Billboard 💡 are worth the following points:
  
  • “Total Lie”: no points.
  • “Actual Size”: 1 million points.
  • “2X”: 2 million points.
  • “3X”: 3 million points.
  • “5X”: 5 million points.
    
• Caught fish are cumulative throughout the game and each Tale Told 💡 adds 500,000 points to the End-of-Ball Bonus.

Light all 4 Tales Told 💡 to start Rock the Boat hurry-up mode.

Feed Frenzy

This hurry-up mode begins when the 4 fish on the Stringer 💡 are all lit by Catching Fish during Fish Tales story mode.
A 15-second timer starts counting down on the DMD. Shoot each of the 4 Feed Frenzy Arrows 💡 to collect Frenzy points. The 15-second timer is reset after each successful shot.

The first three shots are each worth 5 million points. The fourth is worth 20 million points. So completing Feed Frenzy is worth 35 million points.

Rock the Boat

This hurry-up mode lasts 30 seconds if started by completing the 4 Tales Told 💡 during Fish Tales story mode
- or -
20 seconds if started by collecting the “Rock the Boat” award in the Captive Ball Awards.

Hit the The Boat 🚦💢 during the time limit.

Each shot to the Captive Ball 💢, Port Ramp 🚦 or Starboard Ramp 🚦 (including a U-Turn) is worth 10 million points.

This mode can be running during Caster's Club Multiball.

Monster Fish

In this hurry-up mode, try to catch THE monster fish.

Activation

Make repeated shots to the Port Ramp 🚦 and the Starboard Ramp 🚦 to light the 6 fish of the School of Fish 💡. When completed, Monster Fish Hurry-up 💡 will light.

• When the Port Ramp 🚦 or Starboard Ramp 🚦 is flashing, a strong shot to the flashing one results in the ball returning to an inlane by the habitrails and in one fish lighting up in the School of Fish 💡.
  After a shot up the Port Ramp 🚦, the return of the ball through the Left Inlane 🚦 will light the Starboard Ramp 🚦 for 10 seconds.
  After a shot up the Starboard Ramp 🚦, the return of the ball through the Right Inlane 🚦 will light the Port Ramp 🚦 for 10 seconds.
• At the start of a new game, both ramps are flashing, thus allowing 1 untimed shot at each ramp.
• It is possible for both ramps to be flashing at the same time during a game if both inlane switches are activated in a short time without completing a flashing ramp shot.

• The 1^st lit fish is worth 500,000 points. This value is increased by 500,000 points for each lit fish, up to 3 million points.
  So lighting Monster Fish Hurry Up 💡 is worth 10.5 million points.
• Hitting an unlit ramp scores 100,000 points.

It is fairly easy to backhand the ball up the ramps, so if the left ramp is lit and the ball is on the left Flipper 🎮, you should be able to make it up.

Hurry-up Mode

When Monster Fish Hurry Up 💡 is lit, shoot the ball quickly through the Spinner 💢 via the Left Orbit 🚦 to collect the “Monster Fish” value counting down on the DMD.

• The Spinner 💢 must be hit solidly (and not just touched) via the Left Orbit 🚦 for the shot to be valid.
• For the first “Monster Fish”, the value on the DMD decreases by 100,000 points every 1/10^th of a second. With each next “Monster Fish”, the amount per 1/10^th of a second that the score decreases goes up by 50,000 points.
• There is a short time before the countdown actually begins, so it's possible to get all the points.
• If the value on the DMD reaches the minimum of 5 million points, you have 5 seconds to make a shot through the Spinner 💢 or the mode will come to an end.

The first “Monster Fish” start at 20 million points and is increased by 10 million points (if the “Monster Fish” is collected) the next time this mode is activated, up to a maximum value of 50 million points.

✪ Sides Modes

Fish Finder

When Fish Finder 💡 is lit, shoot the Left Orbit 🚦 with a strong shot to land the ball into the Eject Hole 🕳️ and earn a random award.

• Fish Finder 💡 lights for 10 seconds when the ball rolls down the Right Inlane 🚦 and Lite Fish Finder 💡 is lit.
• Lite Fish Finder 💡 is lit:
  
  • at the start of a new game,
  • and by spelling L-I-E on L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 (this is non-cumulative).
    

Random award displayed on DMD:

• “Extra Ball Lite”: lights the Extra Ball Target 💢💡. This stays lit until the Extra Ball is collected. The Target will also score 24,990 points.
• “Super Jets”: increases the value of the Jet Bumpers 💢 to 500,000 points for the rest of the ball in play. The Jet Bumpers 💢 normally score 11,110 points per hit.
• “Inc. Captive Ball”: makes the next unlit value of the Captive Ball Values 💡 flash for the Captive Ball Awards.
• “Instant Multiball”: automatically activates the Caster's Club Multiball.
• “Bonus X”: increases the Bonus Multiplier by 1x.
• “Point Bonus”: random award of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 million points.

Fish Tales is extremely fair about Fish Finder awards:

• In any game, repeatedly lighting and collecting the Fish Finder award will eventually give “Extra Ball Lite” if it has not yet been awarded.
• The “Bonus X” award will not be given if the Bonus Multiplier is already at the maximum of 7x.
• The “Inc. Captive Ball” award will not be given if the Captive Ball Values 💡 are already maxed (at “Instant Multiball”).

Video Mode

After collecting the “Video Mode” award as one of the Captive Ball Awards, the Eject Hole 🕳️ will light up and the Video Mode is ready to be launched.
Shoot the ball around the Left Orbit 🚦 to land it into the Eject Hole 🕳️ and start the Video Mode on the DMD.
In 20 seconds and with 20 torpedoes, shoot jet skis and boats with skiers crossing the screen at 3 different distances.

Use the Ball Launching Handle 🎮 button or Flipper 🎮 buttons to launch the torpedoes.

• Each jet ski or boat with skiers that is sunk is worth:
  
  • 500,000 points on the closest row.
  • 1 million points on the middle row.
  • 1.5 million points on the back row.
    
• An additional 10 million points are obtained by sinking between 15 and 19 targets (inclusive); 20 million points for a perfect score (20/20)!

• After sinking 4 boats or watercrafts on the back row, an “EB” symbol passes on the screen at this same distance. Hit it with a Torpedo to get an Extra Ball.
  If the Extra Ball is not collected, the “EB” symbol may come out a 2^nd time if there is enough time left (usually 1 boat will pass in the back before it comes out again).
• [On real pinball machine], if Fish Tales have been configured for this,
  - and -
  [Only on Pinball FX3], in some modes, like the 5-minute mode,
  the game give a “Big Score” which is worth 20 million points instead of an Extra Ball. The “EB” symbol is replaced by the "BS" symbol.

✪ Multiballs

Caster's Club Multiball

Activation

Lock 3 balls into the Fishing Reel 🔩 by hitting the Caster's Club 🕳️💢 while the Lock Lights 💡 are flashing to instantly begin a 3-ball multiball.

There are 2 additional ways to activate the multiball:

• Collecting the “Instant Multiball” award during Captive Ball Awards.
• Collecting the “Instant Multiball” Fish Finder award.

Each locked ball scores 100,000 points.

• If at least one Jackpot was scored during the multiball, a drop target raises in front of the Caster's Club 🕳️💢. Hitting it relights the Lock Lights 💡 and scores 100,000 points.
• After locking a ball, always try to make a Skill Shot.

Jackpots

In multiball, shooting a ball into the Caster's Club 🕳️💢 (which locks it into the Fishing Reel 🔩) will start a 15-second timer and light the Jackpot 💡.
Within that time frame, shoot the Left Orbit 🚦 to land the ball into the Eject Hole 🕳️ and score a jackpot.
If the allotted time runs out, the locked ball is returned to play.

• Each jackpot collected represents success in tropical fishing, fresh water fishing, and deep sea fishing, shown by solidly lit the net and baits in the Tackle Box 💡. Light all 3 to light the Super Jackpot 💡.
• While the multiball is active the base value of the current jackpot increases by 1 million points each time a fish is caught (the same way Catching Fish works during Fish Tales story mode).

Base values of jackpots:

• “Tropical”: 20 million points, increases by 20 million per Super Jackpot collected, up to a maximum of 120 million points.
• “Fresh Water”: 30 million points, increases by 30 million per Super Jackpot collected, up to a maximum of 180 million points.
• “Deep Sea”: 40 million points, increases by 40 million per Super Jackpot collected, up to a maximum of 240 million points.

• Scored jackpots carry over throughout the game. So if the Deep-Sea jackpot is flashing at the end of the multiball it will still be flashing the next time the multiball is activated.
• Completing the Stringer 💡 during multiball adds 1 million points to the jackpot.

Double Jackpots

If 3 balls are still in play: after lighting the Jackpot 💡 by relocking one ball, the Double Jackpot 💡 will begin flashing.
Relock a 2^nd ball into the Fishing Reel 🔩 by hitting the Caster's Club 🕳️💢 before the timer expires and before the Jackpot is scored. This lights the Double Jackpot 💡 and resets the 15-seconds timer.
Within that time frame, hit the 3^rd ball around the Left Orbit 🚦 to land the ball into the Eject Hole 🕳️ and score a double jackpot.

Doubles the Jackpot values indicated above.

• If the allotted time runs out, both balls are returned to play.
• If the 3^rd ball is lost, one ball is returned from Fishing Reel 🔩, and the value of the Jackpot is no longer doubled.
• Any additional shots, while two balls are relocked at the Caster's Club 🕳️💢, are blocked by the drop target (and it stays up).

Super Jackpots

Once all 3 Jackpots have been scored, and therefore the Tackle Box 💡 is complete, the Super Jackpot 💡 lights up in front of the Captive Ball 💢.
Hit the Captive Ball 💢 hard enough to score the super jackpot.

• There is no limit to the number of super jackpots that can be scored during one multiball.
• If the super jackpot was not collected within the multiball, it will be lit at the start of the next multiball in the same game.
• Scoring a super jackpot increases the base value for all the Jackpots, including the super jackpot itself.

Base value of super jackpots is worth 100 million points, increases by 100 million per super jackpot collected, up to a maximum of 600 million points.

✪ Wizard Mode

There is no wizard mode on this table.

✪ Strategies

Lup's Club

• The Caster's Club Multiball is obviously the safest way to achieve a good score because of the Super Jackpots, which can be huge! Make it your priority.
• Be careful with Extra Balls: [On Pinball FX3] you can earn 4 on each of the 3 main balls, [On real pinball machine] you can earn 3 on each of the 3 main balls. So do not lose one of these balls too quickly, this would deprive you of other additional balls.

PinStratsDan

PinStratsDan offers you his tips and strategy tutorial on this video.

PAPA

The PAPA Strategy is based on Bowen Kerins’ tutorial video.

• During Caster's Club Multiball, hit the Captive Ball 💢 a lot at the start if it's lit. The Ball Save will save you.
• During Caster's Club Multiball, Rock the Boat can be worth an awful lot of points if you can keep the balls going around the Port Ramp 🚦 and the Starboard Ramp 🚦.
• During Caster's Club Multiball, try not to get “Instant Multiball” from the Captive Ball Awards. It's a total waste, especially if you hit it right at the beginning of normal multiball.
• If you have 2 balls locked for the Caster's Club Multiball and “Instant Multiball” lit from the Captive Ball Awards, always try for regular multiball first, since getting “Instant Multiball” means no locked balls after you lose them.
• During Monster Fish hurry-up mode, always try to get the bonus, even if it's only 5 million points, as it will increase the bonus significantly in the next hurry-up mode.
• When collecting the six School of Fish 💡 to start Monster Fish hurry-up mode, keep a careful eye on how many fish in the school you have. Collect the last fish by shooting the flashing Starboard Ramp 🚦 to get the ball to the right Flipper 🎮 for an immediate shot to the Spinner 💢.
• During Rock the Boat hurry-up mode, go for the Port Ramp 🚦 and the Starboard Ramp 🚦 and not the Captive Ball 💢. They're both much easier and much safer to shoot for.
• During Rock the Boat hurry-up mode, going for the Captive Ball 💢 is a good idea if you have both “Lite X-Ball” and “Instant Multiball” lit. You risk a drain on the “Lite X-Ball”, but then you can hit the Captive Ball 💢 again for “Instant Multiball” and a potentially very rewarding Rock the Boat.
• During Feed Frenzy hurry-up mode, don't get the fish (Feed Frenzy Arrows 💡) on The Boat 🚦💢 right away. Try for the harder orbit shots first. If you get low on time, shoot a fish on The Boat 🚦💢, then use the next time to try for the fish in the orbits again. Note that you only need to hit The Boat 🚦💢 ramp sensor to get a fish and NOT the actual ramp sensor. So if you get a U-Turn, you will collect both purple fish on The Boat 🚦💢 in one shot. For the fish in the Left Orbit 🚦, all you need to do is barely touch the Spinner 💢; for the fish in the Right Orbit 🚦, just reach the microswitch before the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡.
• The most important shot to master (and the one that needs the most practice) is the Caster's Club 🕳️💢. The Captive Ball 💢 and Long Cast are very important as well.
• Don't aim for the Fish Targets 💢. Just let the ball hit them as it pleases. If you are really close to Feed Frenzy or Rock the Boat, then try for them. These targets are risky because they can send the ball out of control. Rock the Boat is usually worth it, but Feed Frenzy is only worth 35 million points.
• Watch for which of the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 the ball goes back up the most from the Jet Bumpers 💢 and try to keep that lane unlit (usually the I in the middle). You’ll complete the L-I-E Lanes 🚦💡 more quickly and more often if you master changing lanes.

✪ Easter Eggs

Press the button of the Ball Launching Handle 🎮 3 times when the "skeleton fish" is crossing the display. This gives you a Fishbone bonus worth 10 points.
The person on the display during the 10-point Fishbone bonus is someone named Russ who went to school with Dot Matrix artist Scott Slomiany. He was reportedly an avid fisherman.

✪ Discussions

Any suggestion about the content of this guide? Want to talk about this table? It's below.
If you want to help with the translation, suggest an improvement, or something else ... select below the 'general' chat-room in the left panel or come on the Discord Server of this site.

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✪ Credits

This guide was designed and written by FunkySon with contributions from Mercyscene.
These external contents were used:

• Keefer's Guide for PAPA.org
• ShoryukenToTheChin's Guide for Zen Studios
• wims's Guide for Lup's Club

Many thanks to them to share their works for free and with passion.